Happiest times of your life

[MoMhathair]

I'm in a good mood and feeling nostalgic. I'd love to hear about the happiest times in people's lives - times they look back on and feel all warm and fuzzy about.

I know this isn't an AIBU. Sue me.

There are quite a few times for me, but ones that stand out are:
Uni - I met my DH, had a blast, really enjoyed the courses, had a part time job I enjoyed, felt fit and healthy. A really fun, exciting time in my life.

When my DS was born. I got into a habit of taking prenatal vitamins and the midwife commented after the birth that I had fantastic iron reserves (I'm normally anaemic on and off, lack of periods definitely helped) so despite having a baby I felt strong as an ox, full of life, my baby was beyond gorgeous. It was scary having a newborn but I remember walking down the street pushing the pram and thinking how lovely my life was. My friend and I used to take our babies to the cinema, the shopping centre, cafes, it was a life of luxury really (in spite of poopy nappies and 1000 wakeups a night). I'd always wanted to be a mum and it was far better than I expected, which is a nice surprise.

What were your happiest times?

Thank you and I'm also very sorry to hear you are going through this too, it is all consuming, isn't it. It's definitely a challenge to start finding joy in things in midst as I know this will be a long ride.

2003 , I met my dp , fell in love and was over an awful ex who had cheated.

My happiest times were when I was on maternity leave. First time I did lots of baby classes followed by tea and cake with other new mums and made some really great friends. Second time was during covid. I moved in with my parents and had so much support and my children had so much love.

2021-2022. Was happy to stay single forever after escaping a DV relationship 10 years earlier. Met my now DH in 2021 and fell madly in love, then even though I'd always said I didn't want kids I got pregnant and had my gorgeous DS in 2022. Even with all the worry that I'd make a terrible mom I've never been happier than I was at this time. Fast forward to now and I'm still so happy with my life and the little family we made. My DS never fails to make me ecstatically happy and content 😊

My 3 summers as a camp counselor in the USA.

The period in my 20’s where I was part of a massive social group and we just spent all our spare time in the countryside or in beer tents having the best time and thinking of no one but ourselves.

2020-2023 was rubbish for varying reasons. A total uphill struggle with relationships, finances and my career. I mourned my youth as all my friends very rapidly started having kids. I spent the latter part of that period very much getting my house in order, prioritising myself and learning to like me for me again.

2024 has been an utter turn for the books. Met my OH in January, work is going well, I’ve lost a fair bit weight and my health is booming. I’ve fell back in love with my hobby and I’m motivated and doing very well at it. Financially I’m ok and getting better. I am currently sitting in a 5* hotel after a night away myself for a work event eating steak frites having spent the morning in the spa, utterly contented with my own company - but equally very excited to get home and spend time with my epic OH. I have hit my jackpot.

Uni - I loved my studies, my jobs, lots of nights out, festivals, general fun, I met my OH

Mid - late 20s My Roller Derby Days, loved being part of a team, the social aspect, I felt good, felt like 'myself'. Fell pregnant (a choice) had a miscarriage and gave it all up which I've always regretted.

Now - Overall things are good now after a rocky few years raising two children with additional needs, there's still lows but things seem to be settling and finding a bit of fun in life again, I love being with my children and travelling with them and things are good in my relationship, hoping this lasts

Your happiest times were my hardest times! Quite close together too. Thankfully everything got better for me after new born toddler years and I've been pretty consistently happy for the last 10 years, few pockets of challenges of course but pretty isolated.

I'm such a nostalgic person, if I'm not reminiscing I'm planning for the future and forget to live in the moment!!

So many Christmas Days with my late Dad when I was a child. Infact, the ordinary, mundane Sundays with Mom and Dad as a child.
Travelling down the A30 in a camper van on our way to our honeymoon as newly weds.
First night snuggles with my son and holding my rainbow baby daughter for the first time.
More recently, I took my two children (9&4) on a coach trip to Llandudno. We had the best day and laughed non stop. I am a huge worrier and I didn’t have a single worry that day ❤️

This sounds like a lot of fun!

I’ve generally been happy throughout but most happy was September to June 2001.

When I was a babe in arms and I had everyone dancing to my every whim and zero responsibility.

This might seem odd because I know it was such a terrible time for so many people, but I look back so fondly on lockdown 1 back in 2020. Our children were reception age so schooling wasn't too stressful. We were all at home together all the time with no pressure to get up and rush to school or work, no chasing around to clubs, activities, parties etc. literally nothing in the calendar for months. DH and I were both working but for the first and only time I felt I had a good excuse to put work on the back foot and prioritise the children. The weather was gorgeous, we spent so much time outside. Sometime I feel I need to try to replicate this in life, leave work at work, stop rushing about and just enjoy chill time together.

1995 to 1999 - moved to London- met my H after a divorce and then a toxic 3 year live in relationship- he lived in a grim flat in a very lovely area- we lived in Hampstead during the Brit pop era, did a lot of lovely things on the cheap, bought a 1 bed flat on shared ownership , got pregnant, had son and spent a good few months on leave pottering around lovely area ( Crouch End) with my beautiful baby son - such a fun and cheerful time

This thread reminds me of a famous Office (US Version) quote.

I have 3 and 5 year old boys and every day is bright golden light with them both. They are happy, contented and love life

Also my university years. But I wish I had known how good it was at the time!

My 30s were a good decade for me personally. Got married, had both my children, thoroughly enjoyed being pregnant, giving birth and having maternity leave. Special times, great family memories. I also enjoyed my time at uni, and early 20s.

@NeighbourHitMyCar that's so true

Ah this is a nice thread OP. It is so easy to get bogged down with all the daily crap it’s nice to sit and think about the nice times.

The two years at sixth form. I loooaaathed school and couldn’t wait to leave. Sixth form was a haven for me I absolutely loved it. Studying subjects I enjoyed (no more maths or PE forever!!!) made lots of new friends and met my now DH. Sixth form felt like the sweet spot between gaining more independence but not yet having a single responsibility. I had a PT job and apart from £15 a week to my mum spent the rest on fun!

Marrying my now DH in June this year. We’d been together 15 years and have 2 DC, and have been through so much together. The whole day was so emotional and happy and we celebrated it with 25 of our very closest family and friends. I wish I could relive that day.

In a more general sense, the last 2 years as a whole! We tried for our second DC for 5 years and had multiple losses in that time. He was eventually born in Dec 22. I was able to quit my awful job and stay at home with my two children full time and just enjoy them. I have loved this time being at home and looking after my family. I feel ready to go back to work and put Ds2 in pre school now but I’ll always cherish these last two years.

I loved being a child. I had such a happy childhood. Falling in love for the first time. I was besotted. I loved my time at uni. Meeting first DH falling in love, getting engaged, married and having my babies. Looking back I had 13 very happy years. Meeting my second DH falling in love, getting engaged, getting married in a castle and feeling like a princess. Meeting our foster child. Having 2 DGC. I've been very very lucky. I've never had MH issues or even been down or a bit depressed. I love taking our foster son who's a teen now to his cricket fixtures and watching him play county games. I'm retired and now we go on nice holidays out of term time which I could never do before as a secondary teacher for 20 years. I can go to watch Warwickshire cricket games too. I still feel the thrill of going on a Thursday and Friday as I'm no longer at work teaching. I look back on my life and feel very content. I know lots of people have had difficult adverse situations to negotiate and can't look back very fondly. I know I'm very lucky.

Living in a squat in Holland when I was 16 to 21. The people I lived with were some of the best people I've ever encountered. All dead now, mix of suicide and overdoses. I still reflect on that time and wish I'd spent a bit more time, they were my brothers and sisters from another mother 😔

Sorry for bringing down the tone!

The happiest times in my life have involved either feeling totally free or totally safe. I grew up in a happy household where I felt loved, supported and taken care of and I feel warm and wistful when I think of those years.

I also had a great time during my early twenties, traveling and working around the world. That feeling of being able to do whatever I wanted and move on whenever I wanted without having to answer to anyone was bliss.

My days working in British Home Stores. BHS was my first ever job and my colleagues were like my 2nd family. I worked there for 8 years between 2 stores - I was lucky enough to be able to transfer to another store when I moved to do my postgrad degree and could work in the store that was closer to home in the summer and Christmas holidays. Our nights out were something else and I'll always remember them thanks to the multiple photos I would take on my digital camera (nobody was safe from my photos on a night out - I even made a collage when I left to start the job I do now!)
I remember setting up the Christmas shop around October time, getting excited seeing all the different gifts...sometimes buying them before they hit the shelves! Even when I was working boxing day and couldn't join my family when they went to see extended family, I got the house to myself and enjoyed a movie with a Chinese takeaway and bottle of Kopparberg (I was in my early 20s).
I never had a car so I got the bus to work and often had a nap on the bus home with my iPod playing (luckily, I NEVER missed my stop...I always woke a few stops before my own to give myself time to wake up properly)

The last year for me has been the happiest time of my life by far, childhood and early adulthood was a bit of shit show lol but our first baby is turning one next month, Christmas is approaching, I've had 12 months off on maternity leave, I have the most perfect partner in the world and we recently found out we have our second baby

...on the way! Life is good right now 😊

Sorry don't know why the first one cut off!